The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1887-11-06
AN AMERICAN'S PRIVILEGE.

both sides of the controversy; 1t has
surrendered its space to arguments
for prohibition, has opposed the poll
cy of that measure, and has been will
ing to concede to its opponents the
same consistency it claims for itself.
That, in our judgment, is the only
just, the only dignified, the only
American way. We give the adyo-
Gates of prohibition credit for honesty,
zeal and sincerity in upholding and
advocating what they believe to be
right. Intemperance of statement
and intoxication of excitement on the
part of few of prohibitions adhe-
rents are not fairly TO be cited against
them. Many for whom We have per-
sonal respect see fit to advocate pro-
hibition: that is their privilege: it is,
indeed, their right, for man or wom-
an who has no opinion on subject
of public importance is no man or
woman at all. Personalities, abuse,
and contemplate insinuations, which
If plainly made would be promptly
met, have no place in discussion of so
important matter.
For this is an important question;
in our judgment the most important
that the people of Oregon have ever
been called upon to decide. The impor-
tance of this proposition to put prohi-
bition in the constitution demands So
ber thought, cool judgement, intelli-
gent mental action, uninfluenced by
prejudice, unswayed by sentiment
and unaffected by emotion or vision
ary appeals.
The principle that goes with and
follows prohibition is the point on
which we vote next Tuesday. This
opens the question to wide dimen-
sions; it makes the great question for
us to answer by our votes as wide as
American liberty itself The question
is not ''The home against the saloon"
Here is the real point at issue:
"Despotism against freedom and
American ideas"
If you believe in despotism, vote for
it, put in ballot for prohibition, for
despotism it is pure and simple. If
you are an American, if you love the
idea of freedom, of human rights, of
individual liberty, the sunlight of
reason, vote against this shadow that
would gloomily enfold you.
The men who will defeat prohi-
bition next Tuesday are not men who
have any use for saloons. They are
men who protest against emasculation
of their manhood, men who decline to
place their consciences in others
keeping, men who refuse to allow
others to do their thinking for them.
4ulS pIOpOSlIlOn VI plOnlOiIlOA II
the thin edge of the wedge. Let pro-
hibition carry and a start has been
made The next thing will be other
attempts equally sumptuary in char
acter. Eternal vigilance is the price
Of Liberty" and the way to keep free
is to repel the first assaults on free
dom. Liberty and freedom in this
country have cost too much TO be
surrendered in this afternoon of the
nineteenth century by these sundown
seas to, oppression and intolerance, no
matter how plausible the guise.
Next Tuesdays vote will thus be a
direct measure on the part of Oregon's
voters of attachment to country, of
belief and confidence in American in
stitutions. Those who want to stand
in the sunlight of freedom will vote
against prohibition, those who seek
the shadow of old world intolerance
will help by their votes TO bring it
here.